The representation of the LGBTQ community in media has come a long way in recent years. Modern audiences now demand diversity in popular culture that reflects the variety of life, rather than omitting entire communities from film and TV.
People relate to fictional characters, and when everyone is fairly represented it means everyone has a voice and a welcome place in society. Television shows and films are catching up with this, though there is still much further to go. Here are five excellent examples of LGBT representation and five that aged poorly.
Excellent: Willow Rosenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a show ahead of its time. A pinnacle of 90s pop culture, Buffy was known for its feminist vibe, with Buffy herself (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) a progressive but relatable girl-power character. At the time, the addition of an LGBT character was a risky move but fans reacted to Willow Rosenberg’s (Allison Hannigan) sexuality with an overwhelmingly positive reception.
Willow was already a fan-favorite by the time she discovered she was gay during season four, after falling in love with fellow witch Tara Maclay (Amber Benson). The pair were a beloved couple, until Tara’s tragic death in season six’s “Seeing Red.”
Aged Poorly: Carol Willick, Friends
Another staple from the 90s, Friends remains a beloved comedy despite having problematic aspects. The sexuality of Ross Gellar’s (David Schwimmer) ex-wife was portrayed as a running gag at Ross’ expense, and her relationship with Susan (Jessica Hecht) a pseudo challenge for his masculinity.
Carol and Ross shared a few touching moments, such as the birth of their son Ben in season one’s “The One With The Birth.” However, Carol’s sexuality is mostly regarded as a gimmick and used as a means to further emasculate Ross.
Excellent: The L Word
The L Word is an American-Canadian show created by Ilene Chaiken that aired on Showtime from 2004 until 2008. It depicts the lives of a group of lesbians living in California, touching on several hard-hitting topics including persecution, gender identity, and tumultuous romantic relationships.
The show offered a new insight into the lives of LGBT people, particularly the lesbian community, that had previously not been seen on television. It garnered a mass following and a sequel series titled The L Word: Generation Q is set to air in December.
Aged Poorly: Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter
It is a stretch to include Albus Dumbledore as an LGBT character considering it was never mentioned throughout the series that he was gay. Dumbledore’s sexuality was announced by author J.K Rowling in 2007. The reveal was met with criticism, as it was considered to be an afterthought that should have been explored in the story.
Rowling revealed that the headmaster of Hogwarts was, in fact, gay and had been in love with former friend and foe, Gellert Grindelwald. The relationship was alluded to in director David Yates’ 2018 film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald, but never explicitly addressed.
Excellent: Robin Buckley, Stranger Things
Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) was a welcome addition to the cast of Netflix’s Stranger Things. Although originally hinted as a new love interest for fan-favorite Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Robin shares an emotional scene with Steve in season three’s “The Bite” in which she tells him about her sexuality. A shocked Steve embraces his friend in a poignant moment that subverted the expectations of the audience.
Robin’s ‘coming out’ moment was a refreshing moment and hopefully the show’s creators the Duffer Brothers will introduce a love interest for her next season.
Aged Poorly: Loras Tyrell, Game Of Thrones
Game Of Thrones has been criticized for its portrayal of sex, sexuality, and gender in the past. Author George R.R Martin writes Ser Loras Tyrell as an excellent swordsman and renowned knight with his sexuality and affair with Renly Baratheon alluded to in his A Song Of Ice And Fire book series, whereas the show juxtaposes this by reducing Loras’ character to solely his sexuality.
In the books, Loras is a knight of the Kingsguard and well-known in the Seven Kingdoms as a capable warrior. The show did little to portray this side of his character, and he met an explosive demise in season six’s “The Winds Of Winter.”
Excellent: Captain Raymond Holt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is known for its diverse cast and characters who balance the scales of addressing real-life issues and being consistently funny. Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) is a stoic, straight-faced father figure to the ramshackle group of detectives, explicitly stated as gay during the pilot episode of the series.
His sexuality and the struggles he has faced are never shied away from, though his character is also not confined to a one-dimensional gimmick inserted to a tick a box for representation.
Aged Poorly: Ricki, Gigli
The real-life relationship between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez hyped this film, but it was promptly met with negative reception from critics and fans. Jennifer Lopez portrays Ricki, a lesbian who falls for Affleck’s titular male character.
Gigli did nothing but enforce negative and incorrect stereotypes about lesbians and is not remembered fondly.
Excellent: Eric Effiong, Sex Education
Netflix’s original show Sex Education is an excellent example of diverse representation and addresses several ’taboo’ subjects in a humorous but impactful manner. Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) is a young man who faces numerous issues due to his sexuality, but ultimately overcomes them and refuses to be cowed.
Although his father is initially disapproving of his son being gay as he does not want him to be targeted, the two share an emotional scene in the seventh episode of the first season.
Aged Poorly: Alyssa Jones, Chasing Amy
Kevin Smith’s 1997 romantic-comedy Chasing Amy is another film about a character played by Ben Affleck who successfully somehow converts a lesbian to heterosexuality. Despite having a cult following, the film explicitly portrays female sexuality in general poorly.
The behavior of Affleck’s character Holden would be ill-received by a modern audience was the film to debut in current times. Like Friends, is it another byproduct of a past environment.
